Giving Thanks is Instinctive

A recent front page story reported a touching story about a female humpback whale that had become entangled in a web of crab pots and lines. She was weighed down by hundreds of pounds of these traps and by hundreds of yards of lines that were wrapped tightly, completely around her body including her tail. There was even a line that was entangled in her mouth. She was struggling just to stay afloat. She was spotted near the Golden Gate Bridge by a fisherman who called for help. When a rescue team arrived from an environmental group, they decided that the best and perhaps the only way to save her was for the members of the team to dive into the water and begin to untangle her by hand. They worked for hours with special curved knives and eventually they were able to free her.

When she was free, the divers say that the whale swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, and pushed them gently around as she was thanking them.

Some said it was the most incredible and beautiful experience of their lives. The rescuer who cut the rope out of her mouth said that her eyes were following him the entire time. He said it was a lifealtering experience and he will never be the same.

There is a lesson to be learned this Thanksgiving Day from that whale. She could have left after she was freed but she didn’t. She made sure that everyone who was part of her rescue received an individual expression of her gratitude. If animals can be thankful and show their appreciation, it behooves human beings to do the same to each other. There is no question that at some time in your life, you too were rescued by the kindness of others. You may even owe someone your life. Take this Day to say, “Thank you.”

Patricia Frank is a Licensed Psychotherapist. She can be reached at 305-788-4864, 212-308-0309.